Summer cyclists, walkers go extra mile for their causes

Thousands of Americans are pedaling or walking across the country this summer to raise money for a cause. Groups that benefit range from the Wounded Warriors to victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Ryan Chalmers, a U.S. paralympian, pushes his way into New York City across the Verrazano Bridge. Chalmers rode across America (3,320 miles) to raise money and awareness for Stay Focused, a group that supports teens and young adults with disabilities.(Photo: Parker Feierbach)

Story Highlights

Thousands pedal or walk across USA this summer to raise money, awareness for a cause

Some work in group caravans while others ride or walk alone or in pairs

Blisters, sweat pay off in satisfaction, pride and learning about yourself

Running or pedaling through rain and shine, thousands of people are crossing the USA under their own power this summer in an annual grass-roots ritual that blends personal challenge, wanderlust and volunteerism.

Hundreds are a part of groups like One Run for Boston, 4K for Cancer and Bike and Build, who are working collectively to raise almost $9 million and traveling more than 92,000 miles, according to USA TODAY research on these travelers.

But scores more plan and do it alone or in pairs. They raise money for organizations such as Children's Miracle Network and the Wounded Warriors Project. After saving for months and relying on family and friends to help them raise anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 to make the trip, they may travel up to 100 miles a day and spend months on the road.

One of them is cyclist and animal lover Floyd Lampart, 67, of Lake Clear, N.Y., who's biking 12,000 miles for six months for Best Friends Animal Society. His goal: pedal to the four most extreme points in the lower 48 contiguous states and document it by stopping at a local post office to pick up a stamp. He also hopes to raise $100,000 for homeless animals through donations from friends and family on his website.

"It's like building a boat," says Lampart, who started planning six years ago and got serious when he retired two years ago. "You've got to look at each day as putting down a new plank to build the boat. If you look at the whole picture of the boat at once, you'd go nuts."

Lampart and many other trekkers say the mental challenge trumped the physical one.

Cornell University students Allie Wills and Alec Bernard say weather was their biggest challenge. They faced rain on 18 of their first 20 days, dodged a tornado, detoured around Colorado wildfires and faced extreme winds as they traveled 3,500 miles from Westport, Conn., to San Francisco. They raised money for Citta, which funds clinics and schools in Nepal, India and Mexico.

"Some days in Kansas we had just been riding for hours on a completely flat area moving 6 mph with strong, soul-sucking winds," Bernard says.

Bernard and Wills say they had to fight prevailing westerly winds because they didn't listen to advice from cross-country veterans, many of whom have shared guides online. Typically, many of these travelers journey west to east to avoid potentially annoying winds

Coast to Coast for MS is a group of six people raising money and awareness for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. They are traveling 2,637 miles from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Key West, Fla., with a support van on their journey.(Photo: Handout)

These trips can sometimes also be dangerous. Richard Swanson, 42, hoped to dribble a soccer ball 10,000 miles from Seattle to Brazil on a year-long journey to the 2014 World Cup. His goal: raise money for One World Futbol. Just two weeks into his trip in May, he was struck by a pickup truck and killed.

Many of these adventurers plan their trips in detail, including lodging, food and routes.

One was 2011 summer traveler Dave Wolfsen of Fremont, Mich., known as "Tractor Dave," who completed a 4,000-mile trip across 48 states while driving his 1937 Coop No. 2 tractor. He said he couldn't believe how many farmers waited to see him cross into their state. His advice for those attempting this summer tradition:

Be prepared: "Think of all the angles and challenges you can think of. There's going to be some changes."

Have a support crew to keep you on track.

Be flexible with your schedule because "things change day-to-day."

Wolfsen planned 50 stops to raise awareness for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and Food Resources Bank but managed only 43 due to the heat.

Jasmine Reese, 24, didn't make such detailed plans. She's traveling more than 4,000 miles with less than $100 by relying on people she meets to feed and shelter her. Reese says it shows her the generosity of strangers and lets her get to know the people of America. She's traveling not just for charity but to boost her physical fitness, pulling 105 pounds of gear in her trailer, including her dog, Fiji. Every day, she says, she's learning about nutrition — and herself.

A month into her ride, she has lost 16 pounds.

"I want to conquer a fitness challenge that challenges your body mentally and physically and travel," says Reese, who was inspired by families she met while working at the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation. Many were sick and could not travel or see the world.

Dating college students Alec Bernard and Allie Wills on their ride from Westport, Conn., to San Francisco to raise money for Citta. Citta is an organization that provides communities in India, Nepal and Mexico with hospitals, schools and other basic needs.(Photo: Handout)

Cameron Swengel, 19, and the Coast to Coast multiple sclerosis (MS) group also are traveling to beat a challenge. Swengel's grandfather and father both have MS. Having a relative with MS increases a person's risk for developing it, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Swengel says this isn't something he "wants to sit and dwell on," so he's traveling more than 2,500 miles.

"This ride is about showing people that they can do something greater than themselves," says the Philadelphia University junior. "It's not every day that someone just says, 'I can ride from Maine to California.' This is just the tip of the iceberg for me. I want to experience and grow and get as much in there as I can."

It's a common theme. Two jet skiers, Rob Osborn and Rich Bassford, are splashing 1,300 miles from Moline, Ill., down the Mississippi River and through six states to the Gulf of Mexico. They call the trip their "Everest moment."

"I'm never going to climb Mount Everest, so I might as well jet ski," Osborn says.

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Several individuals are traveling across America to raise money for a cause this summer. Will Allender of Fort Collins, Colo., makes his way across the quiet landscape of New Mexico near Pueblo Pintado as he takes part in the One Run for Boston relay.
Craig Fritz for USA TODAY

Jacob Landis, 24, of Annapolis, Md., is biking across the country stopping at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums between Annapolis, Md., and Miami. Fenway Park was Landis' sixth stop on April 22, while raising money and awareness for the Hearing Loss Association of America.
Handout

Steve Bender, left, of Philadelphia gives encouragement as he is relieved by Danny Bent in the One Run for Boston relay on June 13. The two were running along Indian Service Route 9 in New Mexico.
Craig Fritz for USA TODAY

Cornell University students Alec Bernard and Allie Wills rode 3,548 miles for CITTA in Westport, Conn., to San Francisco. CITTA is an organization that provides communities in India, Nepal and Mexico with hospitals, schools and other basic needs.
Handout

Coast to Coast for MS is raising money and awareness for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, while traveling 2,637 miles from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Key West, Fla. Cameron Swengel, 19, said the group has a goal to do something "greater than themselves."
Handout

These cross-country journeys can be dangerous. A motorist might not think about how they will have to share a tunnel with a cyclist like this one in Gaviota, Calif. This tunnel was part of Floyd Lampart's ride along the perimeter of the United States.
Floyd Lampart

Floyd Lampart, 67, is riding along the perimeter of the United States while raising money and awareness for Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare organization. "I'm riding across the country to combine my love of bikes with my real passion of helping homeless animals," Lampart said.
Floyd Lampart

U.S. paralympian Ryan Chalmers pushed his way into New York City across the Verrazano Bridge. Chalmers rode across America (3,320 miles) to raise money and awareness for Stay Focused, a group that supports teens and young adults with disabilities.
Parker Feierbach

Jasmine Reese, 24, is biking across the USA with her dog, Fiji, for the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation and for better health. She’s pulling 105 pounds of weight and has lost 16 pounds a month into her ride.
Robert C. McAdams